Powder filling method, powder container, developer replenishing device, developer replenishing method, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A powder filling method, which fills at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities into a powder container, and by which a region having only a powder with the highest specific gravity out of the at least two kinds of powders is prevented from being generated in the filled powder container. A toner, which is a first powder that does not include a carrier having the highest specific gravity, is mixed with air in a toner storage portion. The air is introduced into the toner particles to increase the bulk of the toner, and then a toner filling device fills a toner bottle serving as the powder container with the toner having the air. Upon completion of such filling, a carrier filling device starts filling the carrier, which is a second powder, into the toner bottle. Filling of the carrier is completed before the air is released from the toner particles contained in the toner bottle and thereby the bulk of the toner is reduced and then stabilized.

1 . A powder filling method for filling at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities into a powder container, the method comprising the steps of:
 mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;   starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container; and   completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.   
   
   
       2 . The powder filling method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of starting to fill the second powder into the powder container-upon completion of filling of the first powder into the powder container. 
   
   
       3 . The powder filling method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of starting to fill the second powder into the powder container while the first powder is being filled into the powder container. 
   
   
       4 . The powder filling method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two kinds of the powders have a toner and a carrier, the first powder has the toner, and the second powder has the carrier. 
   
   
       5 . A powder-filled powder container, which is obtained by filling a powder container with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities,
 wherein the at least two kinds of powders are filled into the powder container by means of a powder filling method having the steps of:   mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;   starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container; and   completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.   
   
   
       6 . A developer replenishing device, comprising:
 a developer container that contains a developer comprising a toner and a carrier; and   developer conveying means for conveying the developer to a destination of conveyance,   wherein the developer container is a powder-filled powder container, which is obtained by filling a powder container with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities, the at least two kinds of powders being filled into the powder container by means of a powder filling method having the steps of:   mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;   starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container; and   completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.   
   
   
       7 . The developer replenishing device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the developer conveying means has:
 a conveyance path member in which the developer travel; and   a powder pump that applies negative pressure to the developer contained in the developer container, and moves the developer to the destination of conveyance of the developer via the conveyance path member.   
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a latent image carrier;   a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the latent image carrier using a developer contained in a developer containing portion; and   developer replenishing means for supplying the developer to the developer containing portion,   wherein the developer replenishing means is a developer replenishing device having:   a developer container that contains a developer comprising a toner and a carrier; and   developer conveying means for conveying the developer to a destination of conveyance, and   the developer container is a powder-filled powder container, which is obtained by filling a powder container with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities, the at least two kinds of powders being filled into the powder container by means of a powder filling method having the steps of:   mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;   starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container; and   completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.   
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising developer discharging means for discharging the developer from the developer containing portion. 
   
   
       10 . A developer replenishing method for replenishing a developer comprising a toner and a carrier having different specific gravities, from a developer container to a developing device, the method comprising the steps of:
 mixing air with the toner and then introducing the air into particles of the toner to increase the bulk of the toner;   starting to fill the carrier into the developer container after starting to fill the toner into the developer container;   completing filling of the carrier before the air is released from the particles of the toner within the developer container and thereby the bulk of the toner is reduced and then stabilized; and   discharging the developer from the developer container filled with the developer comprising the toner and the carrier, to replenish the developer into the developing device.   
   
   
       11 . A powder-filled powder container manufacturing method for manufacturing a powder container filled with at least two kinds of powders with different specific gravities, the method comprising the steps of:
 mixing air with a first powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which comprises at least one powder that does not include a powder with the highest specific gravity, and then introducing the air into particles of the first powder to increase the bulk of the first powder;   starting to fill a second powder of the at least two kinds of powders, which includes a powder with the highest specific gravity, into the powder container after starting to fill the first powder into the powder container; and   completing filling of the second powder before the air is released from the particles of the first powder within the powder container and thereby the bulk of the first powder is reduced and then stabilized.